March-April 2021

'Without them, we would be nowhere'

Importance of truckers and what can be done to help them discussed at House T&I hearing.

News

Crowd of faceless truckers

‘Without them, we would be nowhere’

Testifying before the House T&I Committee, OOIDA's Lewie Pugh told lawmakers how they could help truckers through the pandemic.

OOIDA-led coalition rallies to fight minimum insurance hike

Power in numbers

OOIDA asks all truckers to come together to fight against minimum insurance increase.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg

New leadership at DOT

Buttigieg confirmed as secretary; Joshi named FMCSA acting administrator.

Department of Labor

Department of Labor rescinds worker classification opinion letter

A change in administrations led the U.S. Department of Labor to go from issuing an opinion letter to rescinding it a week later.

broker petition

‘Misleading and insulting’

OOIDA says group is attempting to distract from the evasion of transparency regulations by brokers.

Todd Spencer, president and CEO of OOIDA

OOIDA’s Spencer to chair new driver panel

OOIDA President Todd Spencer will serve as the chairperson of the FMCSA’s new commercial motor vehicle driver panel.

HVUT trucker relief

Hack the HVUT

OOIDA gives lawmakers suggestions on how to provide relief to truckers.

FMCSA vision standards

FMCSA eyes changes to vision standards

A notice of proposed rulemaking from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration would update vision standards for commercial drivers.

FMCSA National Registry oversight

Falling short

OIG report critical of national registry’s backlogs, lack of monitoring.

yard moves

Yard moves guidance should include truck stops, OOIDA says

OOIDA asked the agency to expand its list of qualifying “yard move” properties to include truck stops and rest areas.

speed limits

Bills in several states would alter speed limits

Legislators in statehouses around the country are pursing changes to speed limit rules for cars and trucks on their state’s fastest roadways.

fuel tax rate

Fuel tax changes being considered

Changes sought in statehouses around the country would alter transportation funding via revisions to gas and diesel tax rates.

left lane lollygaggers

Left-lane measures gaining steam

Legislators in at least a half-dozen statehouses have introduced bills that are intended to address concern about left lane travel.

Indiana Overweight Trucks

OOIDA draws attention to Indiana overweight truck bills

OOIDA continues to highlight opposition to multiple Indiana bills that would put more overweight trucks on state roadways.

legislation, state watch, bills

State Watch – March/April 2021

Since the first of the year, statehouses have been filled with a flurry of legislative activity.

mask mandate

Truckers mostly exempt from federal mask mandate

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in late January that its mask mandate specifically exempts truck drivers.

Canada ELD mandate

Border disorder

Many ELDs used by U.S. fleets aren’t likely to be compliant in Canada.

The Truck Parking Zone

The Parking Zone – March/April 2021

OOIDA takes truck parking to the House.

Truck to Success, presented by OOIDA Foundation

Truck to Success returns in October

OOIDA plans to offer seminar in person and online.

COVID-19 coronavirus resources

COVID-19 need-to-know info, brought to you by Land Line, OOIDA

Brought to you by Land Line, OOIDA’s COVID-19 resources guide compiles everything truck drivers need to know about COVID-19.

Wilsonart dashcam case

A legal end-around

In spite of a Texas trucking company’s partial loss in Florida Supreme Court, Wilsonart’s dashcam case still has a chance of surviving.

heavy haul

A hulking heavy haul

From Italy to Illinois, enormous reactors reach Wood River.

Don Phipps (left) and Jim Johnston

Remembering Don Phipps

OOIDA Director Emeritus Donald Phipps of Madrid, Iowa, died Jan. 16 at the age of 93. He became an OOIDA board member in 1982.

vaccine

Vaccine needs to be accessible for truckers who want it, OOIDA says

OOIDA wants truck drivers seeking the COVID-19 vaccine to be made a priority and to have easy access to the inoculation.

NHTSA

NHTSA AV framework comments due April 1

NHTSA gave the public an additional two months to comment on its advance notice of proposed rulemaking regarding automated vehicle safety.

altered records

Altered records lead to sentencing of truck company owner

A fatal crash more than two years ago and halfway across the country led to the undoing of a Rhode Island truck company and its owner.

March-April 2021

In This Issue:

Features

fallen flag

Fallen flag finds its way home

OOIDA member helps get flag back to its guardian – and the flag helps him heal from tragedy

Landstar housefly Robert Jordan

All the buzz

OOIDA life member wins 2020 Landstar All-Star Truck Giveaway with help from unlikely source.

Long Haul Paul Marhoefer

Trucking tunes

OOIDA member’s latest album aptly named ‘Songs From a Truck.’

OOIDA Member John Vesey, Highway Angel

Putting skills to use

OOIDA life member and former paramedic helps fellow driver after wreck.

Mafia Secrets March/April 2021

Mafia Secrets – March/April 2021

The ‘Perfect Pam Peterbilt.’

thankful, OOIDA, tour trailer

OOIDA on the Road – March/April 2021

It’s a Midwest tour instead of a trip to MATS this year.

trucker; dashboard confidential; inspection

Dashboard Confidential – March/April 2021

Sometimes you just have to make it work.

Arthur Imperatore, Memory Lane

Memory Lane: Requiem for Mister Arthur

In this edition of Memory Lane, Land Line’s John Bendel recalls an era of trucking before deregulation and the founder of A-P-A Transport.

Slight Detour - March/April 2021

Slight Detour – March/April 2021

From a close call with a loose load, a big mess of cheese balls, and a heist that’s just plain nuts.

truckers, Roses and Razzberries, Roses & Razzberries

Roses & Razzberries – March/April 2021

In this edition of Roses and Razzberries, Land Line’s Terry Scruton doles out some doozies to the good and the bad in the trucking industry.

Business

truck handle

Truck handle prototype addresses slip-and-fall accidents

Oregon State University engineering students, with support from Daimler Trucks, have built a new safety feature.

seven-pin connector

A high-tech future

Soon, the seven-pin connector won’t be enough.

Western Star 49X

Looks tough, drives easy

Western Star 49X a premium addition to vocational lineup.

Daimler SelecTrucks

Daimler sees rising demand for used highway tractors

Daimler’s president of remarketing says demand for used trucks rising as the industry gears up for when the economy recovers from COVD-19.

Kidde

Safety concerns ongoing with Kidde extinguishers

Kidde fire extinguishers put consumers at risk while downplaying the extent of the problem with products carried by commercial drivers.

UPS Freight

UPS Freight acquired by TFI International for $800 million

UPS has decided to offload its less-than-truckload division, UPS Freight, for a price tag of $800 million.

Hot Stuff Cool Services, truck products

Hot Stuff and Cool Services – March/April 2021

A wellness app for truckers, snow removal for your trailer, and a place to hang your hats. Get the lowdown on the latest products in our showcase.

Advice

Maintenance, Q&A 2021 Paul Abelson

Maintenance Q&A – March/April 2021

Brake material and coolant loss.

Trucking & Taxes

Trucking & Taxes – March/April 2021

New Year's resolutions that will save you money.

Road law

Road Law – March/April 2021

If you just pay, you might really pay.